How people perceive the Warriors as a club, their results and how they play their footy has always been fascinating to observe. Take this belief that the Warriors have traditionally played their best football when they throw caution to the wind with offloads and funky attacking footy; whether you believe this or not, this narrative comes from the same people who fall back on the very lazy analysis of 'that big Warriors forward pack' and we all know how much of a myth that has been in recent years.

Just as you definitely shouldn't trust the Australian footy media solely because they are Australians, to note that the Warriors need to play a more expansive style of footy in 2018 overlooks a few key factors. These factors are reasons for optimism ahead of a round one clash vs South Sydney Rabbitohs in Perth, a stylistic match up that falls in favour of the Warriors leveling up from 2017.

When Stephen Kearney was signed to be coach, I fought short-term thinking of violently and tried to preach as such in my weekly scribbles. In just over 12 months, we have seen a complete overhaul of Aotearoa Warriors and to judge the club or Kearney on results in his first season misses the whole point.

Take the Warriors style of play for example. Last season the Warriors played in a very basic fashion, which to me looked as though the foundations were being laid for more attacking flair to be sprinkled on top in the coming years. That demands a long-term mindset and if you're a short-termer, you just won't be able to envision that.

Overhauling the player roster took a season and as Kearney has learned from Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett, a certain level of defensive nous and drilling those effort plays, one-percenters, attitude etc are crucial. Attacking flair doesn't matter when those foundations haven't been established, especially not for a coach who has come up under Bellamy and Bennett. Thus the Warriors honed in on completing sets, kick-chase and general boring shit.
Because that's what the Warriors have always sucked at.

Attitude, one-percenters, effort plays, work ethic. All that comes in the 'losing Warriors culture' basket that everyone loved to talk about, so fair play for making those a priority in year one. To take this further, Kearney had to bring in players who epitomise these skills (they are skills) in Adam Blair and Tohu Harris as well as a half who understands how to execute as an NRL half every week in Blake Green.

Look who we bumped into in Perth... #WhatsOnWA #justanotherdayinwa #WarriorNation #footballfamily

2,687 Likes, 18 Comments - Vodafone Warriors (@nzwarriors) on Instagram: "Look who we bumped into in Perth... #WhatsOnWA #justanotherdayinwa #WarriorNation #footballfamily"

Kearney has had to re-jig the very fabric of the Warriors and anyone who thinks that this was going to happen quickly, doesn't understand how intensive the overhaul needed to be and has been. Not only has Kearney brought in players who ooze professionalism and work ethic as leaders, he ushered in Alex Corvo who has a proven track record of physically (and mentally) preparing players in this regard.

Then we move into how changes have the Warriors better equipped in 2018, to sprinkle more attacking impetus on top of those foundations. It's all lovely for people to want more offloads, better passing and some razzle dazzle, yet the Warriors didn't have the players to do this at a high level, nor the actual physical/mental ability to sustain this for 80 minutes, let alone multiple weeks.

I believe Corvo was signed to put the Warriors in a better position to play faster, more skillful footy.

Blair has sustained an NRL career built upon effort, attitude, passing and offloads. He will not average 10m/carry - James Gavet will - but Blair is skilled at offloading and passing at first-receiver.

Harris is a fantastic defender who routinely moved two or three spots further in-field on defence last season at Melbourne Storm, because of his defensive ability. Harris is as skillful as any other edge forward, has delightful footwork to get between defenders and offload as well as being capable of 15runs/150m games.

Tohu Harris 2016 Highlights. Enjoy and comment down below who you would like to see next. Like and subscribe as always.

Green, well with Green it is all about what Green's presence allows Shaun Johnson to do. I expect we will see Johnson flourish, which naturally lends itself to all sorts of razzle dazzle, because Green will handle the mundane play-making stuff that Johnson has consistently been asked to do over the past four years.

Leivaha Pulu and Agnatius Paasi are prototypical modern forwards; they can play edge and middle, they do their job in carting the footy up-field and they can create via an offload or funky passing.

Highlights of rugby league player Agnatius Paasi, who has played for the Junior Warriors and the Auckland Vulcans.

With these inclusions, the Warriors are far better equipped to play NRL footy in 2018 and this isn't about the Warriors playing 'Warrior Ball'. That shit is so silly, only because the entire NRL is playing this style now, the game has evolved and offloads are crucial, ball-playing middle forwards are mandatory as is footwork around the ruck. Just look at how Melbourne Storm have adjust their style of play; Billy Slater was offloading deep in his own territory during the Finals last year.

The Warriors are not better equipped to fulfill your Warrior Ball fantasy, they are better equipped to play 2018 NRL footy.

Well at least I hope and think they are. The Rabbitohs present the perfect match up for round one as their forward pack is large, not as mobile as the Warriors and not as skillful as the Warriors. This will offer a nice gauge-point for how the Warriors have leveled-up as they should be able to play faster through the middle via those offloads and quick passing, which I suspect with have a glorious impact on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke running around the ruck area.

Dane Gagai and Greg Inglis are in the centres for the Rabbitohs and that's the scariest aspect of the Bunnies, especially the Gagai vs Solomone Kata battle.

If the Warriors can play fast through the middle and win the battle up the guts, this will lessen the impact of Gagai and Inglis. As well as ensuring that Adam Reynolds is unable to pull the strings with his kicking game, oh and the Warriors will actually have some niggly kick-pressure from Blair as well.

Their record in Perth is not in the Warriors favour. I like this match up though, not only in terms of getting an early win but also in terms of showing the signs of leveling up and displaying greater skill, fitness and finesse.

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Peace and love 27.